Dakota Bell Housing

[jimoshel]

Fella just called me. Got a '88 Dakota wants to sell. 4 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual. He doesn't know a 2.5 or a AX15 from shinola. Problem is, he's to far away to just go to loook. Almost have to be sure of buying to justify the trip. My question is, what are the chance of it having the bell housing for a a AX15 swap into a '87 MJ 2.5?

[mnkyboy]

Its too old you want about a 98 or newer.

 

Really unless you can find a deal on the parts its easier and not much more money to pay the $460 to buy the adapter and be done.

[Pete M]

98?  I thought it was early 90s.  :hmm:

[87manche1]

Is dodge 2.5 same as jeep 2.5? Wikipedia doesn't say.

[mnkyboy]

96-02 were the years the AMC 2.5l was used in the Dakota.

 

No the chrysler and AMC 2.5L are unrelated. The Chrysler is just a larger version of thier 2.2l

[87manche1]

Ah learned something new ive only had the 4.0

[jimoshel]

Yep. Anyway, saved me a wasted trip.

[88whitemanche]

Where do you buy the adapter kit? I've seen a few ads on Craigslist for an ax15 with out a bell housing for 150$. if I can get the bell housing, I'd go ahead and pick up the ax15 a.s.a.p!!!!

[mnkyboy]

Advanced adapters sells a conversion kit.

 

Also keep in mind that an AX15 moves everything back about 2" so you will need to have your drivelines modified.

[88whitemanche]

Even with a lift? I mean I just want to know for future reference

[mnkyboy]

Its about 2" longer so it will make the front too short and the rear too long. A lift will make the front worse, it will help in the rear but you won't be able to make up the 2" so it will need shortend anyway.

[88whitemanche]

Ok cool

[jpnjim]

In CJs the 4 cyl engine mounts can be slid forward on the frame to move the engine forward.

I don't have a 4cyl MJ here to look, but its worth checking out to see if the engine could be slid forward 2" or so to make the driveshafts work

(yeah, it could mean some fuel line, wiring & fan shroud work to do).

 

The other option would be to look at 6cyl driveshafts since they use that transmission.

[mnkyboy]

I have heard of that done on wranglers too. I haven't looked to see how hard it would be to move the engine forward on our trucks, I planned to use a 4.0l front drive shaft but I was doing a SYE so I was gonna have to make a rear drive shaft.

 

Now I'm planning to swap a 4.3l so it doesnt matter for me anymore.

[Geonovast]

You also need to remember that the back of the 2.5 is a little more forward than the 4.0.  4.0 sits closer to the firewall.

 

Not sure if that would make the AX-15 sit where it would need to or not.

[mnkyboy]

Its hard to say for sure, most of the information on the swap pertains to Wranglers.

 

I just planned on doing the drive shafts so there were no suprises.